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rfoote 
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Joined: February 24 2003
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 Topic: Carbon contains phosphates?
Posted: September 22 2003 at 9:05pm |
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I am still fighting off what I hope is the last of my hair algae issues. In doing some reading tonight I found an article that stated the following; "Some granulated carbon as well as other filter media contain high levels of phosphate. Ensure all filtering media is labeled phosphate free".
I use carbon the 1st of each month and unfortunately just used the last of mine and don't have available to read its phosphate levels. Has anyone heard of this being an issue?
I am just wondering and will make sure in the future I buy a phospahte free carbon.
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GonZo
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Posted: September 22 2003 at 10:35pm |
I've got a bucket of Kent's Reef Carbon and it says "Will not leech phosphates" which indicates to me that it does have a phosphate base. As to letting the phosphates escape into the water....I personally am not too worried about it. If you are only using carbon a couple of days a month then it would have to be major leeching of PO4 to stimulate algae growth. Also, it it was leeching then you would get good growth the about week after using the carbon, after which growth would decrease as the posphate is utilized (assuming minimal leeching). If you run carbon constantly and are worried about it, reduce the usage and see what happens.
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Cortney (West Jordan)
The joy of discovery is certainly the liveliest that the mind of man can ever feel. - Claude Bernard
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jfinch
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Posted: September 23 2003 at 4:01pm |
I would not be at all suprised if all/most carbons contain some phosphates. Activated carbon is just coal (or charred wood or coconut shells) that is heated with (usually) steam. At one time all activated carbon was a living thing and if there's life there's phosphates! I'd guess not all are the same though. Also I'd guess that most aquarium product vendors are smart enough to sell one that doesn't leach.
(btw, I met with the local rep for Norit* about two weeks ago... he told me he could get me a good deal on activated carbon... but I'd need to buy a dump truck full  )
*Norit is by far the largest manufacturer of carbons in the country. Most likely the carbon you're using came from Norit. Oh, and he wasn't visiting me to sell activated carbon (it was something else) I just saw Norit on his product sheet.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: September 23 2003 at 10:40pm |
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What you have heard is on track. If the carbon you use is suspect, that's what activated alumina can be used for...to remove the phosphate introduced by the carbon!
What algae eaters do you have in your tank?
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Travis
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Posted: September 24 2003 at 3:30pm |
I run activated carbon 24/7 and have not seen any problems with increased phosphates. I change it out with new about every three weeks and it seems to work fine for me.
A couple articles...
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/greenfield%20straughan_activated%20carbon.html
http://www.hallman.org/filter/gac.html
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jfinch
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Posted: September 24 2003 at 4:08pm |
Travis,
Those are great articles! I'd add that you want a higher methelene blue # if evaluating different carbons (this is kind of a measure of how well it adsorbs humic material).
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: September 28 2003 at 9:42pm |
Travis, you are evidently using a good brand of carbon!
Not only does cheap carbon "leach" phosphates but a person on this board recently lost some organisms because of using cheap, contaminated carbon. 
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Travis
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Posted: September 30 2003 at 9:57am |
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